This aircraft arrived in NZ in a damaged state and was stored in the Auckland area for some time with Russell Ward before the CAC picked it up about mid 2002 - rebuilt it and registered it on 28-11-2002.

The above photo was taken at the "Last Fly-In" at Wigram on 20-09-2008.

Today I offer a few shots taken in the Solomon Islands recently by Jeremy Rutherford.

I am breaking our own rules by posting aircraft with no NZ history.

Fairey Britten-Norman BN2A Islander H4-AAI (c/n 355) was built as G-BBLX and listed to B-N (Bembridge) on 16-10-1973 and then to George Wimpey and Co Ltd of London on 09-01-1974 before becoming N355BN. It joined Solomon Airlines in August 1979.

Above : self check in for the baggage.

The De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter H4-SID (c/n 442) was built as 3B-NAB for Air Mauritius. Other operators include Air Melanesia as YJ-RV9; then it passed through Australia as VH-XFE on its way to Talair at Goroka as P2-RDZ before returning to VH-XFE with Flight West Airlines and some time with Aeropelican Airlines. It went to Solomon Airline in November of 1994.

Above H4-SID is hearding up its passengers.

The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse N220CM (c/n 0969) was listed to Patrick Murphy on the US register.

It was cancelled on 23-12-97 as exported - rumour has it that it was impounded by the Solomon authorities as it was believed to be bound for Bouganville.

It was built for the US Army and wore the 67-16584 serial

Paul Hubbard has two Australian registered helicopters at Honiara. Above is a partial shot of the Bell 222U VH-HBA4 (c/n 47505). This has been around a bit - starting as N3180T, followed by A6-SRM, UAQ-1, N12GH and N911EC.

His other helicopter is the Aerospatiale as 350B VH-EDG3 (c/n 2805) - ex N32PM.

Sunday, 23 February 2014

David Jopp hover Taxi's his Robinson R22 Beta ZK-IDJ (c/n 3559) out to the holding area.

This Robbie began as ZK-HVG2 in April of 2004 but was changed to ZK-IFT in March of 2006 whilst it was with Nokomai Ltd. It was sold to Lochar Helicopters in October 2007 and then to Maritanga Station in mid October of 2010.

It was re-registered using David's initials to ZK-IDJ on 26-09-2011.

It will soon be based on the Station near Ranfurly along with the Cessna 150M ZK-EFE.

The Armstrong Family Trust had their Sisler SF-2A Cygnet ZK-LXB (c/n AACA/361) out in the sunshine for a while today.

Still listed to Mainland Air Services (2010) Ltd is the North American NA88 AT6D (Harvard III*) ZK-ENE (c/n 88-14678). This was previously active with the RNZAF as NZ1066 from1943 and joined our civil register on 20-06-1978.

The McDonnell Douglas 500N (MD520N) NOTAR ZK-HEN3 (c/n LN019) of Heliventures NZ Ltd is seen above outside the Oamaru Airport terminal building on Saturday the 22nd.
In the background is a big new tin shed for ZK-HEN and its partner ZK-IEN (c/n LN047).